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Baker-Cresswell, Gilfrid Edward, 1914-1943
GB-2014-WSA-02528 · Person · 1914-1943

Baker-Cresswell, Gilfrid Edward, son of Henry Gilfrid Baker-Cresswell AMICE, GPO engineer, and Vera Mabel, d. of Edward Foote Ward of Salhouse Hall, Norfolk, and niece of Gerald Charles Fanshawe (qv); b. 15 July 1914; adm. Sept. 1927 (R); left Apr. 1932; Trin. Coll. Camb., matric. 1932, BA 1935; RMA Woolwich 1935-7; RE 1937-42 (Maj.); m. 27 Sept. 1938 Anne Sylvia, d. of Sir John Charrington, coal merchant, of Crockham Hill, Kent; killed in action (Middle East) Oct. 1942; despatches (posthumous) June 1943.

Gilfrid Edward Baker-Cresswell was born at Edinburgh on the 15th of July 1914 the elder son of Henry Gilfred Baker-Cresswell AMICE, an engineer for the General Post Office, and Vera Mabel (nee Ward) Baker-Cresswell of Salthouse Hall, Norfolk, later of The Post House, Ellingham, Chathill in Northumberland. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1927 to April 1932 He won a O.W.W. Masonic Lodge Prize for Science (practical) in 1930. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps and was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 1930. He won the Long Distance Race at Putney in 1931 and the Long Distance Race on the 8th of March 1932 and won a number of other cups for running during his time at the school.
On leaving school he attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 30th of August 1934. He was admitted as a pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge on the 1st of October 1934 where he read engineering and graduated with a BA in 1936. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 30th of August 1937 and to Captain on the 30th of August 1942.
He was married on the 27th of September 1938 to Anne Sylvia (nee Charrington) of Broad Oak End, Hertford. They had two children, Sally and Gilfred John, born on the 12th of December 1939. Shortly after he was married he was posted to Mauritius for garrison duty.
He was Mentioned in Despatches: - “In recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East during the period 1st May 1942 to 22nd October 1942”, which was announced by the War Office on the 24th of June 1943.
He is commemorated on a stone plaque in St Maurice’s Church, Ellingham and on the war memorial at Ellingham. He is also commemorated on the memorial at Trinity College, Cambridge.
He is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery Plot XI, Row E, Grave 1.
Bailey, Francis Robert, 1913-1940
GB-2014-WSA-02471 · Person · 1913-1940

Bailey, Francis Robert, brother of James Albert Norman Bailey (qv); b. 10 June 1913; adm. May 1927 (A); left July 1931; New Coll. Oxf., matric. 1931, BA 1935; articled to a solicitor; RA 1940 (Lance-Sgt); accidentally killed on active service 19 Oct. 1940.

Francis Robert Bailey was born in London on the 10th of June 1913 the youngest son of John Norman Bailey, a solicitor, and Agnes Elizabeth (nee Harrison) Bailey of 97, Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill, later of 4, Brunswick Gardens, Kensington in London and of “Westmead”, Avondale, Fleet in Hampshire. He was christened at St Peter’s Church, Cranley Gardens, on the 6th of August 1913.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from May 1927 to July 1931 and he matriculated for New College, Oxford in 1931 from where he achieved a BA in 1935. On leaving university he worked as an articled clerk for a firm of solicitors.
He was killed in an accident near to his base of RAF Harwell in Berkshire. His funeral took place on the 23rd of October 1940.
He is buried at Christ Church, Shamley Green.
Ashwin, Manley Frederic, 1887-1918
Ashwin, Manley Frederic, 1887-1918
GB-2014-WSA-02323 · Person · 1887-1918

Ashwin, Manley Frederic, son of the Rev. Edward Godfrey Ashwin, Rector of Earl Stonham, Norfolk, by Blanche Milly, eldest daughter of William Frederick Morgan, of Forest Hill; b. June 2, 1887; adm. from Dulwich School as K.S. Sept. 26, 1901; left July 1904; Pembroke Coll. Camb., matric. Michaelmas 1906; B.A. 1909; M.A. 1914; Salisbury Theol. Coll. 1909; ordained 1910; curate of the Pembroke Coll. Mission at Newington, Surrey, 1910-12, of Wimbledon, Surrey, 1912-3, of St. Peter's, Southsea, Hants, from 1913; m. Sept. 25, 1913, Marjorie Edith. daughter of Arthur Charles Morgan; d. at Warley Military Hospital Dec. 19, 1918.
Ash, William Claudius Casson, 1870-1916
GB-2014-WSA-02292 · Person · 1870-1916

Ash, William Claudius Casson, elder son of William Henry Ash, of Heathfield, Sussex, by Mary Esther, daughter of Joseph Wellington Casson, of Dublin; b. Feb. 6, 1870; adm. Sept. 28, 1883 (D); migrated up Rigaud's; left July 1888; entered the Militia; 2nd Lieut. 2nd Batt. The Duke of Cambridge's Own (The Middlesex Regt.) Sept. 28, 1892; Lieut. July 31, 1895; Capt. March 14, 1900; served in the South African War 1902; Adjutant 5th Batt. Jan. 13, 1902- Jan. 12, 1907; Major April 1, 1909; temp. Lieut.-Col. Dec. 30, 1914 - Feb. 7, 1915; temp. Lieut.-Col. commanding 23rd (Service) Batt. of his Regt. Oct. 30, 1915; went out to the western front Nov. 4, 1914, was wounded at Loos Sept. 25, 1915, and invalided home; returned to the front May 3, 1916; mentioned in despatches L. G. Jan. 1, 1916, and Jan. 4, 1917; D.S.O. Jan. 1, 1916; m. March 1, 1894, Edith Learoyd, second daughter of Edward Wright Barnett, of Selly Oak; d. at Etaples Sept. 29, 1916, of wounds received at Fiers Sept. 15.
Armstrong, Lindsay Crawford, 1912-1944
GB-2014-WSA-02254 · Person · 1912-1944

Armstrong, Lindsay Crawford, son of Hugh Clayton Armstrong, solicitor, of Bromley, Kent, and Norah MacMahon, d. of William Henry Cortland Mahon of Dulwich; b. 21 June 1912; adm. April 1926 (A); left July 1929; a timber merchant; Roy. Sussex Regt 1940-4 (Lieut.); m.; d. of smallpox on active service in India 10 Apr. 1944.

Lindsay Crawford Armstrong was born at Bromley, Kent on the 21st of June 1912 the youngest son of Hugh Clayton Armstrong, a solicitor, and Nora Macmahon (nee Mahon) Armstrong of 7, Sanford Road, Bromley. He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from April 1926 to July 1929 after which he went to work as a timber merchant. He was married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1933 to Leonore “Nordie” Mary (nee Langton) of Chidham in Sussex.
Following the outbreak of war he attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment on the 21st of September 1940. He was later attached to the 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment.
On the 1st of February 1944, the 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment was advancing down the banks of the Kaladan River in Burma in pursuit of the retreating Japanese, who had placed a number of ambush parties in their path. D Company was patrolling in advance of the rest of the Battalion when Lindsay Armstrong singlehandedly killed an entire seven man Japanese patrol.
He was later contracted smallpox from which he died.
He is buried at Chittagong War Cemetery Plot 7, Row D Grave 8
Aris, Jack Biddulph, 1915-1943
GB-2014-WSA-02236 · Person · 1915-1943

Aris, Jack Biddulph, brother of George Biddulph Aris (qv); b. 27 June 1915; adm. Apr. 1929 (A); left Mar. 1933; RAFVR 1942-3 (FO); m.; killed in action 1943.

Jack Biddulph Aris was born at Edenbridge, Kent on the 27th of June 1915 the younger son of Thomas Biddulph Aris, an Executive Advertising Assistant for the London Passenger Transport Board, and Janet Elsie (nee King) Aris of 21, Purley Rise, Purley in Surrey. He was the twin of his sister Mary Biddulph.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from April 1929 to March 1933. On leaving school he went to work as a buyer’s assistant for a biscuit manufacturers.
He was married at St John’s Church, Shirley, Surrey on the 27th of April 1940 to Joan Elizabeth “Joey” (nee Potter, later Aston), a member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he rose to the rank of Sergeant before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 7th of March 1942. He and his crew attended No. 10 Operational Training Unit before becoming operational when they were posted to 158 Squadron based at RAF East Moor on the 9th of July 1942, and flew on their first operation together to Nantes on the 21st of July 1942. They took off from RAF East Moor on the night of the 31st of July/1st of August 1942 in Halifax Mk II W7777 for an operation on Dusseldorf. While over the target their aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire which put aircraft into a loop and caused a loss of control. The pilot, Charles Sparke, put the aircraft into a dive at 330 mph before he managed to regain control and return to East Moor where they landed safely in the early hours of the morning with no injuries to the crew reported.
He was promoted to Flying officer on the 1st of October 1942.
On the night of the 10th/11th of December 1942 Bomber Command dispatched 48 Halifaxes, 20 Lancasters, 8 Stirlings and 6 Wellingtons for an operation on Turin. More than half the force was forced to turn back before they reached the Alps due to severe icing conditions but twenty eight crews went on and claimed to have bombed the target. The city reported that only three high explosive bombs had landed on the city of which two had failed to explode.
Jack Aris and his crew took off from RAF Rufforth at 4.45pm on the 10th of December 1942 in Halifax Mk II DT579 NP-V for the operation. The aircraft came down at 8.45am the following morning near the village of Villeneuve-en-Montagne, eight kilometers to the east of Le Creusot, just thirty meters from a farm building owned by Monsieur Monneret, with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer Jack Biddulph Aris (Navigator)
Pilot Officer Denis Ralph Collyer (Rear Gunner)
Sergeant Ronald Edlington (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant John William Furniss (Mid Upper Gunner)
Flying Officer Harry Middleton (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Charles Lionel Sparke (Pilot)
Flying Officer Rayden Frederic Watson RCAF (Air Bomber)
Thiers was one of 4 aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
The crew was buried in the local cemetery in a ceremony which was led by the Mayor, Monsieur Bourogoyne, and was attended by all of the people of the town, in spite of the presence of the Germans.
A stone memorial was placed at the crash site in 1992.
He is buried at Villeneuve-en-Montagne Communal Cemetery, Collective Grave
Antrobus, George Pollock, 1892-1940
GB-2014-WSA-02207 · Person · 1892-1940

Antrobus, George Pollock, son of Edward Gream Antrobus, C.M.G., of Westminster, Chief Accountant, office of the Crown Agent for the Colonies, by Agnes Minnie, eldest daughter of James Edward Pollock, M. D., F.R.C.P., of London; b. Oct. 12, 1892; adm. Sept. 22, 1904 (H); Exhibitioner 1905; K.S. (non-resident) 1906; elected to an exhibition at Ch. Ch. Oxon. July 1911, matric. Michaelmas 1911; B.A. 1914; appointed a temp. clerk in the Foreign Office Sept. 20, 1915; a King's Messenger in the Foreign Office Oct. 4, 1919; O.B.E. March 30, 1920; killed in an air raid on London Nov. 1940.

George Pollock Antrobus was born at West Kensington, London on the 12th of October 1892 the only son of Edward Greason Antrobus CMG, an Accountant Officer of the Crown Agents of the Colonies, and Agnes Minnie (nee Pollock) Antrobus of 91, George Square, Westminster, later of 15, York Road, Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. He was christened at St Andrew’s Church, Kensington on the 14th of November 1982.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Homeboarders from the 22nd of September 1904 to July 1911 and was awarded an Exhibition in 1905. He was a non resident King’s Scholar from 1906 and was a member of the Debating Society in 1910 and 1911. He matriculated for Christ Church, Oxford in 1911 where he read History and achieved a Second Class BA in 1914. He was appointed as a temporary clerk at the Foreign Office on the 20th of September 1915 and was appointed as a King’s Messenger on the 4th of October 1919. He was awarded the OBE for - “services in Parliamentary Department, Foreign Office” which was announced by St James’s Palace on the 30th of March 1920.
He wrote the book, “King’s Messenger 1918-1940: Memoirs of a Silver Greyhound”, which was published by H, Jenkins in 1941. He retired from the civil service and went to live with his father at 15, York Road, Leamington Spa.
On the night of the 13th/14th of November 1940, the Luftwaffe launched a major attack on the city of Coventry, dispatching some 515 bombers which dropped 500 tons of high explosive bombs, 30,000 incendiaries and 50 landmines on the city. During the raid, one enemy aircraft passed over Leamington Spa which dropped a stick of seven bombs across the town. That night Edward Antrobus had been attending a party at the home of Mr and Mrs Millett at 32, Portland Place and had just returned home, on what was his 80th birthday, when a single high explosive bomb hit the house at 10.58pm, killing him and his son George. There were four others killed in the town that night.
Their funerals took place at All Saints Church, Leamington Spa
He is commemorated on the Leamington Memorial to civilians lost in air raids.
He is buried at Leamington Cemetery, Brunswick Street.
Anderson, Laurence, 1874-1915
GB-2014-WSA-02138 · Person · 1874-1915

Anderson, Laurence, eldest son of William Anderson, F.R.C.S., of St. Marylebone; b. July 25, 1874; adm. Jan. 18, 1888 (H); left. July 1892; Ch. Ch. Oxon., matric. Oct. 14, 1892; B.A. 1895; went into business in Eastern Asia, but returned home on the outbreak of the war; 2nd Lieut. 4th Batt. Lincolnshire Regt. Sept. 19, 1914, attached 1st Batt.; served on the western front; killed in action in France Oct. 11, 1915; unm.
Alderson, John, 1915-1945
Alderson, John, 1915-1945
GB-2014-WSA-02018 · Person · 1915-1945

Alderson, John, son of John Henry Alderson (qv); b. 24 Dec. 1915; adm. Sept. 1928 (KS); left July 1933; member Lloyds underwriting firm; Seaforth Highlanders 1940-5 (Capt.); attached Spe­cial Service troops; MC (Normandy) Aug. 1944; m. 21 Sept. 1939 Diana Mary, d. of Rt Hon. Edward Leslie Burgin MP LLD, Minister of Supply; killed in action in Western Europe Apr. 1945.

John Alderson was born in India on the 24th of December 1915 the only son of John Henry Alderson OW, a schoolmaster, and Dorothy Mogg (nee Stockwell) Alderson of Bruton in Somerset. He was educated at Westminster School, where he was admitted as a King’s Scholar and was up College from September 1928 to July 1934. He placed second for the Ireland Prize for Greek Verse in 1934. He was a member of the Colts Cricket XI from 1929 to 1931, winning his Colts Cap in 1929. He was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934, where he opened the batting in the latter year and of the Football XI in 1932, 1933 and 1934 where he played at inside left. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1932/33 season: - “With Symons constituted the brains of the attack. These two made many fine openings and played cleverly with each other and the other wing half backs. Alderson is a beautiful dribbler and strong with both feet, and a most indefatigable worker. If he is here next year, as it is hoped he will be, he should become an extremely dangerous inside-forward.” He was appointed as a School Monitor in 1933 and served as Hon. Secretary of the Elizabethan in the same year. The Elizabethan wrote the following on his 1933 cricket season: - “An attractive batsman, hooks and cuts splendidly, but his defence needs improving. Apt to get careless when well set and consequently did not make any large scores. A very safe fieldsman who, despite the smallness of his hands, catches nearly everything that comes his way.” He was appointed to the Monitorial Council in September 1932 and was a member of the Officer Training Corps where he was promoted to Sergeant in September 1933.
On leaving school he worked for a firm of Lloyd’s insurance brokers.
He was married at St Botolph’s Without, Aldersgate, London on the 21st of September 1939 to Diana Mary (nee Burgin); they had two sons, one of which was born on the 18th of September 1940, Christopher J., born on the 10th of August 1942 and a daughter, Philippa J., born on the 12th of December 1944.
He attended the 164th Officer Cadet Training Unit at Barmouth from the 24th of September 1939 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders on the 14th of January 1940. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 14th of July 1941 and was later attached to No. 3 Commando where he was appointed to the command of No.6 Troop. He was promoted to temporary Captain on the 13th of March 1944 and was appointed as Regimental Intelligence Officer on the 30th of March 1944.
At 9.05am on the 6th of June 1944, No. 6 Troop, No. 3 Commando landed on Sword beach in LCI 290, which was already sinking as it touched down. The Troop had suffered some casualties on the run in to the beach and suffered more when they moved across it under shell fire. By the evening they were inland at Ranville and by the evening of the 7th of June they were based at the chateau at Amfreville.
At 10.13am on the morning of the 8th of June, No.6 Troop reported that enemy infantry was advancing astride the Le Plein - Languemare Road and they engaged them at close range at 11am with support from artillery and fire from the destroyer HMS Hunter which was offshore. At 11.30am No. 6 Troop counterattacked and drove the Germans back half a mile, “destroying” an enemy company and capturing thirty six prisoners. During this engagement John Alderton was wounded in the knee.
For his actions that day he was awarded the Military Cross, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 31st of August 1944; the citation read: -
“On the morning of 8th June 1944, this Officer was holding a position astride the Le Plein - Languemare Road with one Officer and forty-seven men. The Troop was attacked by a company of German Infantry which established itself in front of the position. Captain Alderson attacked with great determination leading the assault with a T.S.M.G. He himself accounted for a number of the enemy and his men were so inspired by his leadership that they carried on after he was wounded and cleared the entire wood which remains in our hands. Besides approximately 15 enemy killed there were 36 prisoners. Owing to Captain Alderson's skill and courage our own losses were no more than one killed and nine wounded. This success was largely due to Captain Alderson's fine leadership.”
He re-joined his unit as a Troop Officer in billets at Smakt in Holland on the 18th of March 1945. At 3am on the morning of the 7th of April 1945, No. 3 Commando received orders to cross the River Weser in order to support No. 45 Commando as part of a flanking movement to the north of the town of Leese. They moved to Stolzenau at 3.30am and crossed the River Weser in Goatley boats at 4.30am. By 6am they were established in farm buildings where they were under occasional shell fire. Five other ranks were wounded in this area. At 7pm they received orders to join No. 1 Commando Brigade for a night march to Leese. Their objective was the capture of factory which was producing V-2 rockets and they were to be supported by a squadron of tanks for the task. At 8am they began moving towards the northern edge of the Leese and at 8.05am three tanks moved forward to assist them in clearing the town which they entered at 8.15am. At 8.30am the tanks engaged enemy positions in the factory and in woods to the north east of Leese. At 8.45am John Alderson was badly wounded by a sniper and was evacuated to the rear in a captured ambulance at 10am. He died from his wounds later in the day.
When the factory was captured, at around 4pm, a number of rockets were found and around one hundred scientists and support workers were captured.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Harpenden and on the memorials at Bruton and at Lloyd’s of London.
He is buried at Rheinburg War Cemetery Plot 13 Row B Grave 1
Aglionby, Arthur Hugh, 1885-1918
GB-2014-WSA-01987 · Person · 1885-1918

Aglionby, Arthur Hugh, brother of John Orfeur Aglionby (q.v.); b. Nov. 4, 1885; adm. Sept. 28, 1899 (A); left July 1905; Corpus Coll. Oxon., matric. Michaelmas 1905; 1st Cl. Lit. Hum. 1908; B.A. 1908; M.A. 1912; an assistant master at preparatory schools at St. Andrews and at Bournemouth, and subsequently at Trinity College School, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada; 2nd Lieut. Dorsetshire R.G.A., No. 1 Co., April 4, 1912; returned home from Canada in July 1914; Lieut. R.G.A. Dec. 1, 1914, Capt. (acting) Aug. 26, 1917; Major (acting) May 29, 1918; went out to the western front in Sept. 1916 and served with the 174th, 244th, and 219th Siege Batteries, being in command of the last at the time of his death; M.C. Jan. 1, 1919; d. at the second Canadian C. C. S. at Roubaix Nov. 7, 1918, of wounds received in action at Moen, near the Scheidt, on the same day; unm.